The new Samba is beautifully crafted for serious skiers. With a burly wood core, classic vertical sidewall, and sandwich construction, it's a speed-loving, groomer-knifing, crud-busting machine that challenges you to step up your game. It holds tenaciously on hardpack - like a traditional GS ski on steroids - which explains its No. 1 score in Stability and No. 2 in Hard-Snow Grip, but a rockered tip makes it easy to engage too. It won't tolerate laziness, however: It ranked last among winners in Forgiveness.